• IELTS, the International English Language Testing System, is designed to assess the language ability of candidates who need to study or work where English is the language of communication.
• IELTS is jointly owned by three international organisations British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations (Cambridge ESOL).
• IELTS conforms to the highest international standards of language assessment. It covers the four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• IELTS encourages, reflects and tests English as it is used in work, study and life. This real life authenticity gives you a personal and valid indicator of just how good you are!

Global IELTS recognition:

• IELTS is recognised by employers in many countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.
• IELTS is recognised by over 7,000 educational institutions all over the world: almost all higher educational institutions in the UK and over 3,000 in the USA, including prestigious Ivy League colleges.
• IELTS is recognised by government agencies and professional bodies all over the world.
• IELTS is required by the immigration authorities of Australia, New Zealand and Canada for immigration purposes.

Improtant!

From 1st July 2012 Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has extended from two to three years the validity period of IELTS test scores for certain visa subclasses. For more information please visit: www.immi.gov.au/

• IELTS (band 6.5 and more) is required by the Home Office in the UK as a language qualification for people applying for British citizenship.

A full list of institutions recognizing IELTS is available on the British Council Take IELTS website.

IELTS recognition in Poland:

• IELTS (5.0 - 6.0 points) is acknowledged by the Ministry of Education as proven language skills required from people who wish to become English teachers in preschools and classes 1 to 3 in primary schools as well as teachers of subjects taught in English excluding English lessons in bilingual schools.
  Apart from the above mentioned qualifications such a person must meet other criteria and conditions referred to in the directive.
• IELTS (6.5 points and more) is acknowledged by the Ministry of Education as proven language skills required from people who wish to become English teachers in preschools, primary schools, lower secondary schools, vocational schools, high schools, specialized secondary schools, technical high schools, supplementary high schools, supplementary technical high schools, schools of FE, teaching libraries and other educational institutions.
  Apart from the above mentioned qualifications such a person must meet other criteria and conditions referred to in the directive.
• IELTS (over 6) is accepted by the Polish Civil Service Office as an English language qualification required from Polish civil servants.
• IELTS is recognised by the Polish Ministry of Education (6.0 points and more) as a language qualification for tour guides.
• IELTS (above 6.0 points) can exempt you from the final language exam at the end of the PhD programme
• IELTS is recognised by many Polish Universities including:

A full list of universities recognizing IELTS in Poland is available on the British Council Poland website.

IELTS is available in two modules: Academic and General Training. The choice of the test version depends on the requirements of the institution you are applying for.

• Academic module is recommended for candidates planning to study in English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level.
• General Training is suitable for candidates who are going to English speaking countries to undertake work experience or training programmes not at degree level, or for immigration purposes to Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

IELTS is composed of four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) and is available in two versions: Academic and General Training. The choice of the test version depends on the requirements of a given institution.

Fourteen young professionals from around the world share their top tips for succeeding in the IELTS test. Watch the videos now!

A preparation course is not a requirement for candidates who want to register for IELTS. However, candidates wishing to receive tuition may attend an IELTS preparation course organised by the British Council in Warsaw and Kraków. For more information contact the British Council English Teaching Centre.

Candidates who have registered for an IELTS test will be given free of charge access to “Road to IELTS” - British Council on-line preparation materials.
The unique password issued at registration will be valid until one week after the date of the written parts of the test.

How to Prepare for IELTS and IELTS Official practice materials (sample test) are available at the British Council in Warsaw and Kraków. The books are also available for reference at the British Council in Warsaw and Kraków and at all British Libraries in Poland (addresses available at http://www.britishcouncil.org/poland-partner-libraries-network.htm).

Find out the IELTS sample papers and read some practical tips and test day advice concerning the IELTS test.

Materials bought in British Council offices cannot be reclaimed.

NEW   Top Tips for IELTS Academic and Top Tips for IELTS General Training with the an attached interactive CD-Rom available from February 2010! You can purchase them from the CamridgeEsol Shop.

You can take IELTS at British Council offices in Warsaw and Kraków, as well as in examination centres in Gdańsk, Lublin, Poznań, Wrocław and in Szczecin. The test can also be conducted at other venues at the request of an institution registering a large group of candidates. For more details contact:

In oder to check THE day and time of the IELTS test in 2012 please go to the ExamFinder  to get all the information you need.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Once you have successfully registered you will receive confirmation of your test date, time and venue by e-mail approximately 10 days before the test. This information will also be available on this page.
• The written parts of the IELTS test start at 9:00 a.m and last for about 3 hours (without a break).
• The speaking module may be taken in the period of 7 days before or 7 days after the written part of the test.  It is usually organised in the week before the written part of the exam or on the same day as the written part.  These arrangements depend on the number of candidates registered for a session.

In order to register for the IELTS test you should:

1.Enter your personal data into the candidates’ on-line database in the registration system on https://ielts.britishcouncil.org/poland. Please bear in mind that sessions will not be visible in the system after the deadline for registration.

2. Submit one recent, good quality, colour photograph fulfilling passport requirements to the examination centre (personally or by post) no later than 5 days after registering for the test, where the first day is the day of registration. The photograph should be legibly signed with the name and surname of the candidate as well as the test date and city the candidate wishes to sit the test in. The photograph should show the candidate without glasses.

3.Deposit the required fee according to the instructions given in the registration system no later than 5 days after registering for the test, where the first day is the day of registration (downlad a payment slip).

When completing the section of your payment slip entitled "Tytułem" use the following descriptions:

IELTS/ Centre Name/Candidate’s Name and Surname/date of exam, e.g. : IELTS/KRA/ PAWEŁ KOMAR/7/01/06.

In making payments from outside Poland precede the bank account number with the letters PL and the Swift code CITIPLPX. If you wish to pay in GBP, contact us: IELTS@britishcouncil.pl

All bank charges must be paid by the candidate.

Candidates who do not observe the procedures stated in points 1-3 above will not be entered for the IELTS test on the chosen date and their personal data will be deleted from the candidates’ database in the on-line registration system.

IMPORTANT!

IELTS will be organised on the day and time indicated by the ExamFinder if a minimum of 10 candidates register for the test. If fewer than 10 candidates apply, they are entitled to:

• a transfer to the next available test date,
• reimbursement of the full exam fee (100%).

The decision as to whether to sit the examination or apply for reimbursement rests with the candidate.

Documents you might need during registration:

• IELTS Regulations for 2013
• IELTS Payment Slip
• Statement concerning personal data protection
• Request for invoice – individual candidates
• Request for invoice - company
• Regulations for the electronic provision of services
• Notice to Candidates
• Information for Candidates
• Guidelines for IELTS candidate photographs

The IELTS test fee is 640 PLN (downlad a payment slip).

1) A candidate who has registered for the IELTS test can apply for:

a) a transfer to a different test date free of charge, observing the deadline for registration.

b) a cancellation of their registration and a refund of 100% of the test fee The person/institution that submitted the fee on behalf of the candidate is entitled to receive a refund.

provided he/she submits a completed official request form (available in the British Council offices in Warsaw or Kraków) to the British Council in Warsaw or Kraków no later than the deadline for application given in the table below.

Test date	Deadline for submitting transfer form
10/01/2013	04/12/2012
12/01/2013	06/12/2012
19/01/2013	13/12/2012
14/02/2013	08/01/2013
16/02/2013	10/01/2013
23/02/2013	17/01/2013
02/03/2013	24/01/2013
09/03/2013	31/01/2013
14/03/2013	05/02/2013
23/03/2013	14/02/2013
06/04/2013	28/02/2013
13/04/2013	07/03/2013
18/04/2013	12/03/2013
27/04/2013	21/03/2013
11/05/2013	04/04/2013
16/05/2013	09/04/2013
18/05/2013	11/04/2013
25/05/2013	18/04/2013
08/06/2013	30/042013
15/06/2013	09/05/2013
22/06/2013	16/05/2013
06/07/2013	29/05/2013
13/07/2013	06/06/2013
18/07/2013	11/06/2013
27/07/2013	20/06/2013
03/08/2013	27/06/2013
17/08/2013	11/07/2013
24/08/2013	18/07/2013
07/09/2013	01/08/2013
12/09/2013	06/08/2013
21/09/2013	14/08/2013
28/09/2013	22/08/2013
10/10/2013	03/09/2013
12/10/2013	05/09/2013
19/10/2013	12/09/2013
26/10/2013	20/09/2013
09/11/2013	03/10/2013
16/11/2013	10/10/2013
21/11/2013	15/10/2013
30/11/2013	24/10/2013
07/12/2013	31/10/2013

2) If the request for refund or transfer of test date is made after the deadline given in the table above, the candidate:

a) is entitled to a transfer to a different test date for an additional fee - 25% of test fee, observing the deadline for registration for a chosen date, if the request is made due to:

• a candidate’s serious illness (e.g. hospital admission)
• death of a close family member
• hardship/trauma, e.g. a traffic accident
• military service

provided he/she submits a completed official request form (available from British Council offices in Warsaw or Kraków) to the British Council in Warsaw or Kraków not later than 5 working days after the original test date for which the candidate was registered.  The request must be supported by appropriate official documentation and/or evidence.  Candidates applying for test date transfer must select a test date within a three-month period from submitting the request.

b) is entitled to cancel their registration and receive a refund of 75% of the test fee if the cancellation is caused by:

• a candidate’s serious illness (e.g. hospital admission)
• death of a close family member
• hardship/trauma, e.g. a traffic accident
• military service

provided he/she submits a completed official request form (available from British Council offices in Warsaw or Kraków) to the British Council in Warsaw or Kraków no later than 5 working days after the original test date for which the candidate was registered. The request must be supported by appropriate official documentation and/or evidence. The person/institution that submitted the fee on behalf of the candidate is entitled to receive a refund.

c) is not entitled to a refund or test date transfer if:

• the cause is different from the ones mentioned above
• the application is not accompanied by appropriate official documentation and/or evidence
• the application is made later than 5 working days after the original test date.

1.Candidates with special needs requiring the adaptation of test papers (e.g. hearing/sight impairment), should submit their application for special arrangements complete with medical evidence to the British Council no later than 3 months before the test date. *

2.Candidates with special needs requiring administrative changes (e.g. extra examination time, the use of headphones, computer, etc.) should submit their application for special arrangements complete with medical evidence to the British Council no later than 6 weeks before the test date. *

3.Candidates with dyslexia, dysgraphia or dysorthographia should submit a report provided by a fully qualified educational, clinical or chartered psychologist no later than 6 weeks before the test date. The medical evidence must:

• be in the form of a report prepared in a period no more than two years prior to the date of the examination,
• include details of the degree of disability.

* The organisers of the test may not be able to provide the service requested.

If you need more information about special arrangements please, contact British Council offices in Warsaw and Kraków for more details.

• Test results (Test Report Forms - TRF) are sent by post on the 13th day following the test. Results are also available on-line 13 days after the test date.
• Candidates who want to receive their IELTS test results on the day they are released directly to their mobile phones should fill in the SMS request form. The fully completed form should be delivered to the British Council in Warsaw or Kraków personally, by mail, fax or scanned and sent as an e-mail attachment to IELTS.Warsaw@britishcouncil.pl lub IELTS.Cracow@britishcouncil.pl
• We can send 6 copies of the TRF free of charge - one copy for the candidate and up to 5 copies to receiving institutions indicated in the registration system.
• Additional copies of your TRF can be sent directly to institutions on your behalf within the two years of their validity. You can ask for your results to be forwarded by downloading the Application for additional TRFs Form. Complete the form and send it to our office in Warsaw or Kraków. An administrative fee of 20 PLN is charged for the despatch of each additional copy.
• IMPORTANT NOTICE: Some institutions do not receive the paper version of the TRF but download candidates’ IELTS results from an on-line site only. This serves to improve the efficiency of the application processing system. Candidates should, therefore, always inform the receiving institution of the date of their IELTS test.

The IELTS Test Report form includes a candidate’s score, on a Band Scale from 1 to 9 for each module of the test as well as an overall Band Score on a scale from 1 to 9. Each Band corresponds to a descriptive statement giving a summary of English competence. The nine bands and their descriptive statements are:

9 -  Expert User

Has a fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding.

8 -  Very Good User

Has a fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well.

7 - Good User

Has an operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning.

6 - Competent User

Has a generally effective command of the language despite some inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations.

5 - Modest User

Has a partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field.

4 - Limited User

Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has a frequent problem in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.

3 - Extremely Limited User

Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.

2 - Intermittent User

No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English.

1 - Non User

Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.

COUNCIL OF EUROPE LEVELS

The Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference is intended to describe the criteria of language knowledge and skills of language learners across Europe. Please find below a comparison of IELTS with the Council of Europe global scale levels.

	Detailed description
A1 Break-through	Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
A2 Waystage	Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
B1 Threshold	Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
B2 Vantage	Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue, giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.
C1 Effective Proficiency	Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
C2 Mastery	Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations.

For more information please visit the Council of Europe webpage.

Our aim is to continuously improve our services to our customers.  If you should have any suggestions or comments that may help us in this process please contact us.

Any comments you may have concerning the conduct of the examination should be directed to the Supervisor immediately after the examination and in writing to the examination centre staff no later than by the date stated in session regulations.  In the case of the Listening test all comments should be reported at the beginning of the test, after hearing the introductory recording.

Please read our complaints procedure.